Meet the NMD4C Team
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee provides overall scientific leadership, direction, and oversight. Its members are responsible for overseeing progress and coordination between the different work strands, operations, administration, budget, and interaction with knowledge users. They are accountable for the delivery of the scientific milestones and the effective administration of the project.
Natasha Chang
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, McGill University
James Dowling
Professor, Pediatrics and Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto
| Pediatric Neurologist, Senior Scientist, Program of Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children
Cynthia Gagnon
Professor, Rehabilitation, Université de Sherbrooke; Researcher, FRQS Centre de recherche du CRCHUS
| Visiting Professor, uOttawa and CHEO-RI
Lawrence Korngut
Neuromuscular Neurologist, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary
Hanns Lochmüller
Senior Scientist, CHEO Research Institute
| Professor of Neurology, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine and The Ottawa Hospital Department of Medicine
Homira Osman
VP of Research & Public Policy at Muscular Dystrophy Canada
Jodi Warman Chardon
Clinician-Scientist, Director of the Ottawa Neuromuscular Centre, The Ottawa Hospital; Associate Scientist, OHRI; Scientist, CHEORI
| Associate Professor of Neurology, Co-Director of the Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University of Ottawa
Investigators
Agessandro Abrahao
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Neurology) at University of Toronto | Staff Neurologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
| Associate Scientist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Alberto Aleman
Neurologist, The Ottawa Hospital
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Reshma Amin
Director of Sleep Medicine and Long-term Ventilation, Respirologist and Sleep Physician, The Hospital for Sick Children | Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto
| Clinician Investigator, Senior Associate Scientist, Child Health and Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research, Theme 4: Knowledge Translation & Impact Assessment
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research, Theme 4: Knowledge Translation & Impact Assessment
Bernard Brais
Professor, Neurology and Human Genetics, McGill University
| Neurologist and Director of the Rare Neurological Diseases Group, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science, Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Theme 5: Open Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science, Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Theme 5: Open Science
Vera Bril
Professor of Neurology at University of Toronto | Neurologist and Director of the Neuromuscular Section at University Health Network and the University of Toronto
| Senior Scientist at the Toronto General Research Institute
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Craig Campbell
Head of Pediatric Neurology, Chair of Pediatrics, Medical Director - Neuromuscular Clinic, Thames Valley Children’s Centre, - Pediatric Neurophysiology Laboratory, Children’s Hospital London Health Sciences Centre
| Professor of Pediatrics, Epidemiology and Clinical Neurological Sciences, Western University; Scientist, Children’s Health Research Institute
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Theme 5: Open Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Theme 5: Open Science
Élise Duchesne
Associate Professor, Department of Health Sciences, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
| Researcher, Groupe de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les maladies neuromusculaires (GRIMN)
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science, Pillar 2: Clinical Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science, Pillar 2: Clinical Research
Nicolas Dumont
Associate professor, Rehabilitation department, University of Montreal
| Principal Investigator, Musculoskeletal health research axis, Sainte-Justine Hospital research center
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Patrick Frosk
Associate Professor, Pediatrics and Child Health, Biochemistry, and Medical Genetics, Director of Medical Genetics and Genomic Residency Program, University of Manitoba
| Clinical Geneticist, Investigator, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba
Network Involvement: Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Benoit Gentil
Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Physical Education at McGill University
| Associate Member of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Penney Gilbert
Associate Professor, University of Toronto | Canada Research Chair in Endogenous Repair Institute of Biomedical Engineering
| Primary Appointment Donnelly Centre, Cross-Appointed | Department of Cell and Systems Biology, Cross-Appointed
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Hernan Gonorazky
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, University of Toronto
| Pediatric Neurologist, Director of Neuromuscular Fellowship Program, The Hospital for Sick Children
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research, Theme 1: Early-Career, Theme 5: Open Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research, Theme 1: Early-Career, Theme 5: Open Science
Victoria Hodgkinson
Executive Director, Canadian Neuromuscular Disease Registry
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research, Theme 5: Open Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research, Theme 5: Open Science
Aaron Izenberg
Neurologist, Director of Rapid Neurology Clinic and Neurology Education, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre; Assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, and Neurology Education Committee member, University of Toronto
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Bernard Jasmin
Dean and Professor at faculty of Medicine UOttawa |
| Vice-President, Research, at the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC)
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Kristina Joyal
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health at University of Manitoba | Neuromuscular Pediatric Neurologist for the Neuromuscular Clinic at the Rehabilitation Center for Children
| Pediatric Neurologist at the Winnipeg Clinic and HSC Winnipeg Children's Hospital | Researcher with the Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Marta Kaminska
Associate Professor of Medicine at McGill University | Pulmonologist and Scientist at McGill University Health Centre
| Medical Director of the Quebec National Program for Home Mechanical Ventilation
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Jason Karamchandani
Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, McGill University
| Clinical Neuropathologist, Scientific Director of C-BIG Repository, The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University Health Centre Research Institute
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science, Theme 5: Open Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science, Theme 5: Open Science
Mireille Khacho
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, the University of Ottawa
| Canada Research Chair tier2 in Mitochondrial Dynamics and Regenerative Medicine University of Ottawa | Neuromuscular disease center and the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB) member
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Alexandra King
Internal Medicine Specialist at Saskatchewan Health Authority | Adjunct Professor, Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University.
| Nipissing First Nations woman | Cameco Chair in Indigenous Health and Wellness at the University of Saskatchewan
Network Involvement: Theme 2: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity (EDII)
Network Involvement: Theme 2: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity (EDII)
Rashmi Kothary
Deputy Scientific Director and Senior Scientist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
| Professor, University of Ottawa
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science, Theme 5: Open Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science, Theme 5: Open Science
Alex MacKenzie
Professor of Pediatrics, uOttawa | Pediatrician, CHEO
| Senior Scientist, CHEO Research Institute
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Jean Mah
Pediatrics and Clinical Neurosciences Professor at the Cumming School of Medicine
| Pediatric Neurologist and the Director of the Pediatric Neuromuscular Program at the Alberta Children’s Hospital
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Theme 5: Open Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Theme 5: Open Science
Rami Massie
Associate Professor of Neurology at McGill University
| Neurologist at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Montreal General Hospital Neuropathy Clinic
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Hugh McMillan
Professor, Pediatric Neurology, University of Ottawa
| Pediatric Neurologist and Neuromuscular specialist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research
Cam-Tu Émilie Nguyen
Pediatric Neurologist, CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal
| Medical Director of the Neuromuscular clinic, Marie Enfant Rehabilitation Centre of CHU Sainte-Justine | Neuromuscular and EMG fellowship director at CHU Sainte-Justine
Network Involvement: Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research and Education
Network Involvement: Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research and Education
Colleen O’Connell
Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Dalhousie University
| Physiatrist, Medical Director and Research Chief at Horizon’s Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research, Theme 5: Open Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research, Theme 5: Open Science
Maryam Oskoui
Pediatric Neurologist, Neurophysiologist and Epidemiologist, Clinician Scientist and Director of Pediatric Neurology, Montreal Children’s Hospital
| Associate Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University | Scientist, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research
Kessen Patten
Professor - Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie
| Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science, Theme 5: Open Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science, Theme 5: Open Science
Christopher Perry
Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at York University in Toronto, ON, Canada
| Associate Director of the Muscle Health Research Centre at York University in Toronto, ON, Canada
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Gerald Pfeffer
Associate Professor, Clinical Neurosciences, Medical Genetics, and Neurologist, University of Calgary
| Full Member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science, Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Theme 2: EDII
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science, Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Theme 2: EDII
Stephanie Plamondon
Clinical Professor of Clinical Neurosciences at University of Calgary | Physiatrist at South Health Campus Neuromuscular Multidisciplinary Outpatient Clinic team
| member of Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Aymeric Ravel-Chapuis
Assistant Professor in the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Ottawa
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Xavier Rodrigue
Associate Clinical Professor, Rehabilitation, Université Laval
| Chief Physiatrist, CIUSSSCN
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Fabio Rossi
Professor, University of British Columbia
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Michael Rudnicki
Professor of Medicine and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and Program Director of Regenerative Medicine at uOttawa | Scientific Director of the Canadian Stem Cell Network
| Senior Scientist and Director of the Regenerative Medicine Program and the Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Kerri Schellenberg
Neuromuscular Neurologist at University of Saskatchewan | Associate Professor at University of Saskatchewan
| Medical Director of the ALS/MND clinic and the Royal University Hospital EMG lab | co-chair of the Canadian ALS research network
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Theme 2: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity (EDII), Theme 5: Open Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Theme 2: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity (EDII), Theme 5: Open Science
Kathryn Selby
Clinical Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, University of British Columbia; Pediatric Neurologist, BC Children’s Hospital
| Medical Director, Pediatric Neuromuscular Program of BC and the Yukon; Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research, Theme 3: Expert Patient Capacity Building, Theme 4: Knowledge Translation & Impact Assessment, Theme 5: Open Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research, Theme 3: Expert Patient Capacity Building, Theme 4: Knowledge Translation & Impact Assessment, Theme 5: Open Science
Christen Shoesmith
Associate Professor, Neurology, Western University; Neuromuscular Neurologist, Director of Neuromuscular Fellowships and Motor Neuron Diseases Clinic, London Health Sciences Centre
| Medical Director, Motor Neuron Diseases Clinic, University Hospital in London
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Mark Tarnopolsky
Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, Director of Neuromuscular and Neurometabolic Clinic, McMaster University Medical Center
| CEO/CSO Exerkine Corporation
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Martine Tetreault
Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience at Université de Montreal
| Researcher, CRCHUM
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Kednapa Thavorn
Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at uOttawa | Senior Scientist and Scientific Lead of Health Economics at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
| Adjunct Scientist at ICES
Network Involvement: Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Daria Trojan
Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University | Professeure associee in the Department of Medicine at the Université de Montréal
| Physiatrist at the Montreal Neurological Hospital, Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital, and Constance-Lethbridge Rehabilitation Centre
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research
Leanne Ward
Professor of Pediatrics and Tier 1 Clinical Research Chair in Pediatric Bone Disorders at uOttawa | Medical Director of the CHEO Genetic and Metabolic Bone Disease Clinic
| Scientific Director of the Ottawa Pediatric Bone Health Research Group | Pediatric Endocrinologist at CHEO
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Toshifumi Yokota
Professor of Medical Genetics and The Friends of Garrett Cumming Research & Muscular Dystrophy Canada Endowed Research Chair at the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Jocelyn Zwicker
Neuromuscular Neurologist at The Ottawa Hospital Neuromuscular Centre
| President of the The Ottawa Hospital Medical Staff Association
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research, Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Staff
Erin Beattie
Network Manager
James Davis
Communications and Administrative Coordinator
Zainab Adamji
Outcome Measures and Natural History Coordinator
Marine Christin
Pre-Clinical Science Coordinator
Kevin LaFleur
Biobank Developer
Victoria Larocca
Training and Curriculum Coordinator
Maria Masnata
Clinical Trials and Community of Practice Manager
Patient Partners
Corinne Kagan
Network Involvement: Outcome Measures and Natural History, Clinical Trials Network, Patient Registries and Datasets
Claudia Maltais
Network Involvement: Biobanking, Community of Practice
Jonathan Mesiano-Crookston
Network Involvement: Clinical Trial Network
Linda Niksic
Patient Partner, Researcher, Educator, Infrastructure Developer
Network Involvement: Education and Training/Curriculum for Neuromuscular Specialists, Preclinical Science, Community of Practice
Knowledge Users
Marie-Hélène Bolduc
VP of Programs and Services, Muscular Dystrophy Canada
| MBA
Network Involvement: Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 3: Clinical Practice Research
Stacey Lintern
Chief Executive Officer, Muscular Dystrophy Canada
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research
Network Involvement: Pillar 2: Clinical Research
Daria Wojtal
Director of Research at Muscular Dystrophy Canada
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science
Network Involvement: Pillar 1: Preclinical Science